Is it allowed to overtake from the right side?
1 Answers
Overtaking from the right side is not allowed. Article 47 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates: The overtaking vehicle should pass the preceding vehicle from its left side after confirming there is sufficient safe distance. When overtaking, motor vehicles should turn on the left turn signal in advance, switch between high and low beams, and sound the horn. On roads without a central dividing line or with only one motor vehicle lane in the same direction, the preceding vehicle should reduce speed and give way to the right when receiving overtaking signals from the following vehicle, provided that conditions permit. In China, the driver's seat is on the left side, making the left-side view easier to observe compared to the right side. Overtaking from the right requires significant head movement to observe the road ahead. The range of head movement needed for left-side overtaking is smaller than for right-side overtaking, allowing drivers to promptly detect and handle sudden situations such as obstacles, pedestrians, or vehicles appearing on the left. Due to visibility limitations and the greater range of head movement required, right-side overtaking may delay the optimal response time to emergencies.